The Early History of Ireland

The history of the Irish-British troubles can be traced back to the 12th century when at the time Ireland was ruled by various kings. One particular king was named King Dermot of Leister and he was driven out of Ireland by another king named King Connacht. King Dermot vowed revenge against the other kings and that he would not give up his thrown so easily. King Dermot went to England to seek the help of the English King, Henry II. King Henry II agreed and allowed King Dermot to recruit an army to claim back his land. Once King Demot has succeeded in reclaiming Leister he passed away leaving the area in turmoil. King Henry II used this opportunity to intervene and gain control of Ireland. From this point forward the English have never left island.

The Plantation of Ulster

The Plantation of Ulster began in the 17th century when Scottish and English Protestants were given land in Ulster Northern Ireland to settle. This decision was secured by King James I who thought that settling the area would squash Irish rebellion. It was, however, Queen Elizabeth I that first decided that the region should be planted by English settlers after a series of failed military attempts and an influx of Scottish settlers to the region.

The Battle of Boyne
The Battle of Boyne is one of the most remembered battles in English-Irish history. The result set the way for the next couple of hundred years.
It all started when King James I was became King of England and Ireland. He converted to Catholicism as his mother Henrietta Maria was French and Catholic. The Nobles of England were always very weary of him as he was Catholic and had a good relationship with the French and his cousin King Louis XIV. He has a daughter Mary II with his first wife who was baptised in the Anglican church and later went on to marry William III of Orange who was also her first cousin. James also had another daughter. These two girls were Protestant heirs to the throne so the fact that James II was a Catholic was tolerable for the English nobles. This all changed when finally Queen Mary of Modena (James II second wife) had a son James Francis Edward who would be a Catholic heir to the English throne. This brought alarm bells ringing for the English nobles and as a result they invited William of Orange and his wife Mary to take the throne from James II.
William invaded but James II refused to attack. He tried to retreat to France but was captured and kept under protective guard by the Dutch. William III let James II escape and so James II fled to France to stay with King Louis XIV. It was here that James II started to organise his revenge and to take back his throne.
Backed by the Irish and the French James II led an army in the Battle of Boyne but was defeated by William who was then in a position to assert English control over Ireland for many many years to come.
The victory is commemorated by the Protestants in Northern Ireland with the Orange Men March.